YKK Corporate Philosophy

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The CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ is the corporate philosophy established by YKK’s founder, Tadao Yoshida, who believed that “no one prospers without rendering benefit to others.” It expresses the basic belief of the YKK Group. Tadao Yoshida firmly believed that business belongs to society. As an important member of society, a company survives through coexistence. When the benefits are shared, the value of the company’s existence will be recognized by society. When pursuing his business, Mr. Yoshida was most concerned with that aspect and would find a path leading to mutual prosperity. He believed that using ingenuity and inventiveness in business activities and constantly creating new value would lead to the success of clients and business partners and make it possible to contribute to society. This type of reasoning is referred to as the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ and has always served as the foundation of our business activities. We have inherited this way of thinking and have established it as the YKK corporate philosophy.

YKK Management Principle

When Tadahiro Yoshida became president of YKK in 1993, he expanded upon the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ in a way that would resonate in an increasingly globalized society. Building on YKK’s fundamental concept of creating value, he adopted “YKK seeks corporate value of higher significance” as the YKK Management Principle.

The CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ and the YKK Management Principle complement each other – while the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ asks us to create value and share the benefits, the YKK Management Principle gives us a clear set of rules on how to do so. By continually striving for innovation in our products, technology, and the management of our company, we can deliver value to our customers, employees and society.

Fairness is the anchor between those with whom we share benefits and our way of delivering those benefits. We use “fairness” in a broader sense – one that goes beyond simply abiding by the law. “Fairness” at YKK means cultivating the knowledge and wisdom within our company to make just decisions in every community around the world where we do business.

From diapers to spacesuits and backpacks to automobiles, users of YKK® Fastening Products benefit from YKK's network of 111 companies operating in 73 countries and regions around the world. Since the company's founding in Tokyo in 1934, YKK has continuously set industry standards for quality, service, value and innovation in the production of fastening products such as zippers, hook & loop fasteners, plastic buckles and notions, webbing, and snaps & buttons. Based on the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ corporate philosophy - no one prospers without rendering benefit to others - YKK aims to contribute to a sustainable society through our operations and constantly seeks new ways to serve the changing needs of our diverse customers. View our corporate brochure here..

Global Annual Financial and CSR Report

CYCLE OF GOODNESS™

"No one prospers without rendering benefit to others."

An enterprise is an important member of society, and as such, it must coexist with other elements of society. Its value will be measured by the benefits it shares with society. Behind the YKK Philosophy of the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ is the concept that "contributions to society can best be achieved by the continual creation of value through innovative ideas and inventions. The resulting business expansion will bring prosperity to consumers and business partners, thus benefiting all society.
This has been our philosophy since 1934, and remains the basis of our business today.